Burnout cure

Ok so about a year and a half ago I obtained my associates in computer information systems. A month after that I landed a job with a local company in their IT department. Everything was great at first. They told me how well I was doing and how much they appreciated the effort, etc. Then one day they pulled me into the office. They said "this isn't about your job performance. You are doing fine in your job, but you are too hyper. When you're not busy just set in your chair and do whatever you like." So ever since that day everything has went down hill. I was hyper because I had nothing to do and wanted them to give me more. But they didn't see it that way and now I can't bring myself to get motivated about this job anymore. I really want things to work out but I'm not sure how to perform at my peek when I have to pretend to be someone I'm not. I naturally have high energy and like to keep busy, but it doesn't seem that is possible while working here. Can someone give me some tips on dealing with this situation?

Codypace68 wrote: When you're not busy just set in your chair and do whatever you like.

Read books, start a business, learn something new, create an app...

If you were hired by a farmer and picked all the apples on a tree, the farmer might say it is time to wait for more apples to grow, in the meantime do whatever you like. That would be the farmers fault?

Most businesses have a cycle of production or phases. They also have employees of various abilities and liabilities they must manage. It is not their primary role to provide entertainment or opportunities for employees while the apples grow. It might be a good idea to help with retention, but it is not their duty.

Many companies have a concept called value-added tasks. This is a bad concept where when an employee has finished picking apples, you find busy work or small projects that "add value". After all, you are not paying them to watch apples grow. So you have them mend ladders, clip grass or wash the trees, anything to keep them busy and "earn" their keep, even if really you just need them to pick apples.

If you are really not satisfied, look for another job. Maybe you can find a company that will give you busy work to keep you occupied when they have no more apples for you to pick.

Codypace68 wrote:That makes since. I really want to start a small engine repair business. Maybe I can pursue that in my free time.

Yeah man, if you're in IT, why not learn how to code or become an expert on network security or something like that? You could look into starting your small engine repair business but I'm not sure how far you could get while at work. If it were me, I would watch a ton of YouTube videos, read peoples' blogs and maybe even email some other shop owners to see how to get started, you could do all that stuff while at work. Also I take notes when it comes to important stuff like that, cuz if you don't write it down you are very likely to forget it. You can pick up a little spiral notebook for like $.88 and write down your stuff in it, see how much it would be to rent a small space, get some tools and supplies and stuff like that. You can do it man, then if my lawn mower ever breaks I will bring it to you because technically this message kind of helped you get started, ya know? We're good like that

Haha no worries man. If you are seriously interested in coding I would definitely recommend web design. My friend's brother is a self taught designer and coder and he makes 100k+ a year working mostly from home. So you might have to meet clients online and stuff but there are definitely lots of options out there. I know I've thought about it, haha

how do you find such jobs where you have nothing to do as programmer? In my experience there were always things to do, only there was not enough time. I am just happy if I do enough work so that I would not be fired